Monday, October 18, 2004

New Subic chief says he'll put freeport in world map

Instead of making sudden changes, new Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chair Francisco Licuanan III said on Monday he would gradually usher in development inside this former American naval base.

Delivering his first ever public speech after President Macapagal-Arroyo appointed him to the post, Licuanan vowed to "build on what has been already built and go on from there."

"When you have accomplished a lot, you are expected to accomplish more," Licuanan said during the turnover ceremony of the SBMA leadership. He commended outgoing SBMA Chair Felicito Payumo for what Payumo has done during his six-year term.

"Frankly speaking, I have no doubts that Tong (Payumo) would go a long way," he said.

Licuanan said that when he was asked to take on the job, the only thing that "attracted" him was the potential of this freeport zone to compete globally.

"If we can't do it here in Subic, where else can we do it?" he asked.

The former president of Ayala Land Inc. also hailed the "wonderful dedication" and "hard work" put in by SBMA employees that helped Subic gain various awards and commendations.

"I urge you to join me in this new administration's quest to carry out our task and role in national development," he told SBMA officials and employees.

Alfredo Antonio, incoming SBMA administrator, vowed to help mitigate the country's deficit by being more efficient "so that every peso redounds to the improvement of the freeport's future income and economic growth."